Taught By:
Kevin Yu
Doctoral Student
School of Social Work
Michigan State University
Read profile here.
Motivation to Teach Social Action:
As a doctoral student who is relatively new to teaching and a practicing macro social worker, I aspire to educate and influence future generations of social workers. Participating in this institute would be a great opportunity for me to develop the skills needed to move in that direction. I’ve seen firsthand how one of the faculty members at my institution transformed her course after attending this institute, what she was able to accomplish with her students was inspiring, and I hope to emulate that in my own teaching someday.
We are living through a challenging yet monumental time, I believe that this is the time that individuals have the power to show up and create meaningful change. I want to equip myself with tools that not only empower me to take action but also support and guide my future students in doing the same. I have the possibility of being a teaching assistant in a course in Spring 2026, and I’m also required to complete a teaching mentorship with a faculty member in my department. I hope to incorporate what I learn from this institute into those experiences to build a foundation for future teaching that centers social action.
Course Description:
Information and skills for policy practice for advocacy at local, community, agency, state, and federal levels. National and international policy comparisons.